Recto-vag fistula questions

I just developed one in September and freaked out as it was my first one and I knew when I was starting to pass gas through my vagina what it likely was. It took a while (December) before I could see my GI, he sent me for an MRI (for the pelvis, no contrast) and set me up for a c-scope as well as lots of blood work, stool test, chest x-ray, TB test (he was setting me up to go on biologics which I will soon be starting). He didn't RX me anything besides setting me up for my choice of Remi or Humira, I chose Humira.

It is gross, and having sex is scary, so is going to the bathroom to poop frequently as I'm terrified that stool will pass through the vagina. You have to tell your hubby, I told mine right away, you don't want him to get the wrong idea about why you're not showing interest in intimacy.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you, I know exactly how you feel (((HUGS)))

First of all thanks for your support, it means so much. I guess I'm just trying to process it all and not do the denial thing I do so well.

If he wants to go the biologic route the only choice is Humira as I've developed antibodies to Remi in the past. Which raises the whole cost issue that I won't go into. He did mention a seton drain which I don't exactly understand how that works but I'll have to do a little research.

Thanks again for all your words of wisdom. Especially you Scifigal with all you've been going through you still found time to reach out to someone else.

I have a recurring recto/vag fistula. Whenever I notice that it might be resurfacing I take the Cipro/Flagyl combo and it clears up. I haven't had a recurrence in a year of so. Fingers crossed.... Good luck to you.

Hi @ctrish17! Welcome to the forum! :) You might want to start a new thread instead of continuing on this older one. That way more people will be able to see it and comment on it specifically for you.

Do you have Crohn's disease? It sounds like you do have a RV fistula. I'm sorry to hear that. But don't be scared. They really aren't all that bad, just a bit annoying. If you do have Crohn's, the take on the fistula is going to be a bit different.

My mom, who does not have Crohn's, has had a RV fistula since I was born (she tore during labor and it didn't heal all the way). She's seen a few OBs over the years, and the last one told her that if she isn't really have problems with it, it's not a huge deal. I believe his exact words were something along the lines of, "The pioneers used to have fistulae as big as your fist and just lived with it. It's really okay."

That's not to say that you should just ignore it; I'm just trying to reassure you that it's not all that horrible. :)

Since I do have Crohn's, my surgeon's method of dealing with it is a bit different than how it would be if I didn't have Crohn's...I think. You have a few options. First, I would make an appointment to get in to a colo-rectal surgeon. A general surgeon is probably not the best way to go. When I first had mine, I met a regular surgeon and he told me that if any surgeon tries to tell me that they can handle it and I don't need a special colo-rectal surgeon, to run away and not look back!

Here are some of your options (at least, these were my options with Crohn's). They are spelled out a bit more in my posts earlier in this thread, so I won't re-type all the details here.
***have a seton put in

***have a plug surgery

***have a graft or a flap surgery

As you talk with your CR surgeon, he'll help decide what's right for you. If you don't have Crohn's, I think your best bet would be the plug surgery. I had that last August, but mine was unsuccessful because it had been so long since the fistula formed. It's now kind of like a pierced ear - even though the earring is out (I no longer have a seton), the skin around it won't close the hole because it's all healed up. But since yours sounds new and you don't have the Crohn's damage (I'm guessing), then a plug seems like a good option. If it doesn't take, then you can still explore other options.